The 5 Love Languages

Let’s Do This

Thanks for all of the well-wishers about my family and I being sick. Literally an hour or two after I posted, I had a fever of over 102*. That was miserable!

Ever the blogger, I had to document my sickness with a lovely picture...

Ever the blogger, I had to document my sickness with a lovely picture…

I felt bad for my family because I kept crying because my head hurt and nobody knew what to do. Yikes… sorry family. I’m feeling a bit better today though. I took a few rest days from exercise and ate a lot of soup. All the prayers from friends and family helped, too.

*

I have finally thought about my goals for the year of 2013! Here they are, in categories, because I like to be organized like that.

Life goals for 2013:

  1. Do things that scare me. (This usually means horseback riding, flying in airplanes, competing in triathlons, and swimming in the ocean. Don’t make fun of me..)
  2. Bake more. I love baking, but lately I haven’t set aside time to do it. This year, I shall.
  3. Travel as much as possible. I really want to visit Savannah, Georgia.

Spiritual goals for 2013:

  1. Attend  more church activities. I attend a good amount of church outings and functions, but sometimes I fill my schedule to the brim with a million other things and end up missing out on fun outings with my church family. 
  2. Figure out a “prayer schedule”. I pray every day, but I really want to get into a “groove” where I set aside a specific time just for prayer. I think it will really help me focus.
  3. Speak Jimmy’s love language more. You can learn about love languages here. Jimmy is so important to me, and I’m always looking to improve our relationship and show him how much I love him.

Fitness goals for 2013:

  1. Participate in a triathlon, half marathon, or full marathon. I’d be thrilled if I did all three in a year, but I’d also be happy if I only did one. I’ve done a few triathlons, but they’re the most challenging for me (the biking..) so I’m really aiming to compete in one.
  2. Stretch more. There is a yoga class right after I teach Spinning. I have no excuse. I’m also going to work on spending more time with my foam roller.

*

So there you have it; the things I want to accomplish in 2013. It’s kind of nerve-wracking to put these things on the internet for anyone to see, but it also makes me accountable. I like it!

What are your goals for 2013?

Bible verse of the day: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

My Top 10 Books of 2012

One of my goals for 2012 was to read 50 books. Right now, I’m on book number 47! You can see all of the books I’ve read this year and last year here. You can also see my post on my favorite books of 2011 here.

The following books are my top 10 favorite books I’ve read in 2012:

10. Save Me – Lisa Scottoline (This was a page-turner for me!)saveme

9. Interpersonal Conflict – William Wilmont & Joyce Hocker (This was actually one of my textbooks last semester. I loved it that much!)interpersonalconflict

8. The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie – Kim & Krickitt Carpenter (The movie based on this book came out around Valentine’s Day. It’s actually a true story and the couple in the book are Christians. It’s truly a crazy and amazing story!!)thevow

7. The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir – Gaby Rodriguez (This is another true and crazy story!  This book was also made into a movie.)thepregnancy

6. In the Water They Can’t See You Cry: A Memoir – Amanda Beard (This was written by the famous Olympic swimmer, Amanda Beard. I had no idea she struggled so much in her life. It’s a very inspiring book.)inthewater

5. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts – Gary Chapman (This book will change the way you view and treat your significant other and loved ones.)fivelovelanguages

4. 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess – Jen Hatmaker (This is a great book about being a Christian consumer. It really made me re-examine my spending habits.) 7

3. You’re Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be – Holley Gerth (The title may sound cheesy, but this book really boosted my self confidence. It’s a great read for any woman or girl.)alreadyamazing

2. Made to Crave for Young Women: Satisfying Your Deepest Desires with God – Lysa TerKeurst (This was one of my favorite books this year. I did a post on it a few months ago.)madetocrave1. Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption – Katie Davis (This was my favorite book of 2012! If I could only give one book recommendation to you, it’d be this one. The author is only in her early 20’s and she’s seriously done some amazing things for the Lord!). kissesfromkatie*

Have you read any good books this year?! Please share!